The family of Lalu Prasad Yadav has played a central role in Bihar's politics for decades. However, before the 2025 assembly elections, Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of the Lalu family, is once again in the headlines.
Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the family of Lalu Prasad Yadav have been a prominent name in Bihar politics for years. But before the 2025 assembly elections, clouds of crisis have once again started looming within the Lalu family. The reason for this is Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, whose recent statements, posts, and expulsion have created a stir in political circles.
Tej Pratap's rebellious attitude and his unclear political direction could pose a threat to the RJD's unity and strategy. Here, we are discussing the 5 significant points that show how Tej Pratap Yadav can really become a headache for the RJD and the Lalu family.
1. The Anushka controversy and expulsion from the party
In May 2025, Tej Pratap posted on his social media, claiming a 12-year-old relationship with a woman, which caused a political and familial upheaval. Later, he claimed it was hacking, but the matter had gone too far. Lalu Yadav took a stern stance on this and expelled him from the party and family for 6 years.
This was the first time Lalu took such a harsh action against his son publicly. This step was said to be an attempt to maintain the moral image of the RJD, but it also revealed that the cracks in the family were now visible on public platforms.
2. Rebellious statements after expulsion
Instead of remaining silent after the expulsion, Tej Pratap tweeted, "Don't consider my silence as weakness, you started it, I will end it." This tweet directly indicates towards his family and party leadership. It is a proof of the resentment and rebellious attitude simmering within him. If Tej Pratap makes any big decision before the elections—such as forming a new party or joining hands with another party—it can be a deep blow to the RJD.
3. Previous clashes with Tejashwi and the 'Krishna-Arjuna' sentiment
There has been a power struggle between Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav from the beginning. After Tejashwi was made the face of the party, Tej Pratap felt himself marginalized. He has often tried to portray himself as Krishna and Tejashwi as Arjuna, to show his own role in power as superior. But in practice, his attitude has repeatedly gone against the party line. Tej Pratap's imbalance confuses not only the family, but also the party's cadre and workers.
4. Opportunity for opposition parties
The biggest advantage of Tej Pratap's controversies is being taken by the opposition parties. JDU and BJP have questioned the RJD's words and deeds, calling it a "family drama of the Lalu family." The case of Tej Pratap's ex-wife Aishwarya Rai is also being brought up again. All this can weaken the image of the RJD, especially among the Muslim-Yadav vote bank, which has been the party's traditional support base.
5. Conversation with Akhilesh Yadav and new political speculations
Tej Pratap recently had a video call with Akhilesh Yadav, the head of the Samajwadi Party, which intensified the political activity. He shared this conversation on his social media, calling Akhilesh close to his heart. When asked where he would contest the elections, he evaded the question by saying, "I am coming to Lucknow."
This indicates that he may be looking for a new political path other than the RJD. If he contests the election as an independent candidate or forms an alliance with SP or any other party, the RJD may have to face the vote-cutting effect, which will directly benefit the BJP and JDU.
